Conveying and excavating machine



July n l v W. GOIZUETA Y LOPEZ DE ZUBIRIA CONVEYING AND EXCAVATINGMACHINE Filed July '7, 1922 g Sheetsrsheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE V5 July 15 1924.

W. GOIZUETA Y LPEZ DE ZUBIRIA CONVEYING AND EXCAVATING MACHINE FiledJuly 7, 1922 2 sheets-Sheer 2 BY- A ATTORNEYS,

Patented July 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES PA'I'EN'Il OFFICE.

WENonsLAo GOIZUETA Y Lorna marmara or MILAGRO', SPAIN.

CONVEYING .aun nacavariive .1i/recentie.`

Application filed July 7,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying andExcavating Machines, of which the following is a speci tication.

Conveying or excavating systems using the principle of the Archimedeanscrew are well known and common but so far as I am aware such systemsrely upon the rotation ot the screw or spiral in a stationary casing.lllhile such systems are fairly satisfactory a great difliculty withsuch apparatus resides in the tactI that the substance is transported bythe pressure ot the rims or turns vof the screw or spiral. It theconveyer is of considerable length the pressure upon the lowest turns otthe spiral is excessive and causes frequent breakages. The principalobject ot this invention therefore is to provide a machine in which thescrew or spiral. is the stationary and the conveyer the rotary element.the material being` transported by the trictional contact of therotating casing.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedexcavating machine which may be used for general eX- cavating purposes,for tunneling. dredging or for loading and unloading of material in bulksuch as sand, coal, grain, etc.

A further object is to provide a machine ot this character which can beplaced upon a stationary support or may be placed upon a boat. motortruck, or other suitable movable conveyance.

Another object is to ,provide an excavatling device based upon theprinciple ot the Archimedean screw but in which the screw comprises thestationary element and the enclosing casing or tube the movable element.

A further object is to provide a conveyer tor an excavating device ofthe above character which comprises a number oi detachable interlockingtubes and corresponding helical screw conveyer portions.

Another object is to provide a device oi of the character set forth withmeans to raise and lower the conveying and digging means.

Another objectis to providemeans for," clamping the lower -sections of"the 'excavatmg and c fniveyinffA means to permit theconwith'a bearing`18'i`or 1922. Serial No. 573,344).

venient insertion or ,removal of additional sections when desired.y andA, furthery object is to provide a three point 'spring pressed steadyingmeans for the casing` or tube adjacent the digging end.

For the accomplishment of these and such further objects as willhereinafter be apparent to those skilled in the art to which thisappertains, the invention consists in the construction, combination andarrangement ot parts herein specifically described and illustrated inthe accompanying draw-V ings. wherein is shown a preferred embodiment otthe invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theclaims hereunto appended.

In, the drawings. Jforming a portion'of this specification Fig l1 isl afront elevation ot a machine constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 a partial rear elevation on an enlarged scale showing theconveyer elevating gearing in inoperative position.V

Fig. B is a longitudinal central section on line of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4. is a section on the line 1-fl of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2 showing` the conveyerelevating means in operative position.v

Fig. Gv is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

As shownin the drawings. the numeral l()4 indicates Igenerallyanysuitable supportv forA This mainA the main trame of the machine.`frame is preterablv formed of two similar castings bolted together .atthe center line of the machine .and comprises a semi-circular baseportion 11 adapted to be secured to the support. and an upright mainyoke shaped portion 12 which extends upwardly from the base portion abearing 13. Formed integralwith the main yoke portion is an additionalsecondarv yoke portion comprising a pair of vertical arms 14 and 15 anda horizontal bearing'16, Extending upwardly from the sides of the yokeportion'12 adjacent thebearing 13 are a pair of projecting vertical armsIG parallel'witb. and Vspaced from'the arms 414, 15. Secured: tothe topof the ybearing` 16 is an auxiliary frameI nenlnloery 17 provided -apurpose which will Extending transversely racross the machinehereinafter appear.

andhjournalledin thefarms and a and terminates in y main driving shaft19. one end of which projects outwardly beyond the frame and .hasmounted thereon the fast and loose pulleys 20, 2l l'esnectvebf- Lecetedin `the spaces between the arms -16 Vand the arms 14 and 15 are a pairof ily wheels22, 22a .while in the space between the arms 14 and 15 arelocated the bevel gears 23, Thefly wheel 22 is fixed upon the shaft 19and a gear wheel 23 slidingly keyed thereto, the gear wheel 23 drivingthe gearl 25 which in turn drives the gear V24 which is mounted upon astub shaft 1 9.a journaled in the arm -15 and the l arm 416"- shown atthe left of Fig.` 1. Secured Ito the stub shaft 19a is a second flywheel 22a, the purpose of which is to balance the vibrations duc. to thedrivingr mechanism. The gear wheel 23 is slidably mounted on the shaft-19 and is provided with' a grooved hub 234l with which is suitablyengaged the pivoted handle 23b a spring metal detent such as shown at23c being provided to Yhold the handle in either of its positions withthe gear 23 in operative or inoperative position.

The bevel gear 25 is provided with a key 251L slidably received in a keyWay 26" extending longitudinallj7 of a tubular sleeve 26 upon the lowerend of which is formed the driving bracket 27. The lower ends of thebracket 27 are drilled to receive the bolts 28 by means of which theupwardly projecting ears 29 of the conveyer casing sections may beinterchangeably attached to the bracket.

The hollow cylindrical casing of the conveyer consists of. a lowersection 30 and a number of intermediate sections 32. Each of thesesections is provided at its upper end with the projecting ears ortongues 29, the base of the lower section having secured thereto thedigging implement or tool 31, while the base of each of the intermediatesections is cut out as at 33 to receive the pr ojccting ears 29 of theadjacent lower section. The intermediate sections are machined oil as at34 adj acent'the cut out portions 33 to provide a seat for therectangular curved connectingplates 315` whereby the outer surfaces ofthe plates will be' flush with the exterior oY the casing, the ears 29also being turned oil'l as, at 36 for the same purpose. Suitablefastening means such'asl the bolts 37 are provided to hold the sectionssecured together in interlocking engagement.

Bassing tlncough the center ofthe casing and in axial alignmenttherewith is the hollow tube or shaftA 38 to` which is securedy a numberof helcal'screw units4 39 each of which is provided with an upturnedflange 4Q' by ni'eansoi which the units are secured te th tube' 35? *EehQ35 ths@ units extends around the tube 3@ a complete' 3609 revolutionand their,Y ed-ges'4l (ses Fig. 6) are arranged in abutting relation-,se las to form a @entier-ous arehifmedean Screw.. a numberof additionaltube and; Ecran entiers atentarlength to the intermediate sections 32 ofthe casing being provided for increasing the length of the screw tocorrespond to the lengtlrot the casing when a section or sections areadded to the casing. Any suitable Vinterlocking means, such as indicatedat 38 (Fig. 3) being provided for the tube sections.

The tube 38 passes through the sleeve 26 and extends upwardly throughthe bearing 1-8 in which it is slidably received but is prevented fromrotating therein by means of a key 42 formed on the interior of thebearing 18, which key is slidably received in the key ,vay vextendinglongitudinally of the tube and terminating a short distance trom theupper end of the tube, the end of the key way acting as a stop to limitthe downward movement of the conveyer and suspend the conveyer systemwhen not in operation. The

outer diameter of the tube 38 and the inner diameter of the tubularsleeve 26 are proportioned to ensure a running tit.

Means are provided for raising the con veyer as follows, extending fromone side of the arms 14 and 15 are a pair ot lugs 46 provided withbearings to receive a jack shaft 47 having secured thereto at one end, aspur gear 48 meshing with a pinion 49 keyed to the main ydrive shaft 19.Slidingly keyed to the jack shaft 47 at the central part thereof is aspur gear 50 having a hub'l integral therewith, the hub being'providedwith a cir cuinterential groove 52 to receive a pin 53 projecting' fromthe side ot an operating lever 54 pivotcd as at to the traine ol themachine, By moving the lever 54 the gear 50 may be shifted into or outot engagement with the rack 56 secured to the tulnilar sleeve 26 toraise the sleeve and with it the casing and screw.

At a point a short distance below the lower end of the tubular sleeve 26a web 44 extends across between the arms of the bracket 2T and betweenthis web and the base ol the sleeve 26 is received a collar 45 whichpreferably is in two parts detachably secured to the hollow shattBS. Thepurpose of this collar be ingto hold the casing and Archin'iedean screwin fixed relative longitudinal positions and t'o raise the screw whenthe casing is raised. The collar is made detachable to permit the readydismantling of the parts when desired.

The legs of the yoke shaped portion of the main frame extend a shortdistance below the semi-circular base portion 11 and each of thesedownwardly extending portiens has secured thereto one end orn a curvedlaininfited leaf spring 58, the outer or free end'of each spring beingprovided with an antifriction ball 59 which is held in firm buityielding engagement with the" exterior of the casing, ath-irriant-i'frcticn ball @Ohrring heli-lI Within e retaining bracket @l Serre*at the centre of the base portion 1l, a coiled spring 62 holding theball 60 in engagement with exterior of the casing. It will be noted thatthese anti-friction balls are equally spaced to form a three pointsteady rest for the casing.

Located immediately above the anti-friction balls are a pair of clampingmembers each of which comprises an arcuate shaped clamping portion 63,the face of which is preferably covered with leather and to the back ofwhich is secured a screw 64 which passes through a suitably tapped holein the depending portion of the frame, to permit the clamp to be forcedagainst or withdrawn from the casing as desired.

The interior of the casing sections are preferably provided with rifledgrooves or corrugations 65 extending spirally therearound in a contrarysense to the helical stationary screw 39 as shown in Fig. 3, the purposeof these grooves being to produce a greater friction between the casingand the material and hence insure the better transportation of thematerial.

The operation of the device is as follows, assuming that a digging orexcavating operation is about to be started the machine will only havesecured thereto the lower conveyer casing section 30, the lower edge ofthe tool 31 will then be brought into Contact with the ground and the'shaft 19 will be put in operation, it being understood that the gear 50will be moved out of engagement with the rack 56. The gear 23 is movedinto mesh with the gear 25. by means of the handle 23b the spring detent23c yielding to allow the movement of the handle and springing back intoengagement with the handle to hold the same securely with the gears inmeshing relation. The rotation of shaft 19 being transmitted through thegears 23, 25, causes the rotation of the casing 30 and with it the tool31, the Archimedean screw being held against rotation by the key 42 andkey way 43. The rotation of the tool 31 which is preferably somewhatscoop shaped will cause the material being excavated to be pushedupwardly into the casing, the rotation of the casing forcing thematerial upwardly along the screw from which it will be expelled in atransverse direction at the top of the casing, any suitable means beingprovided to carry the expelled material away. The weight of the partswill be sufficient to force the digging implement downwardly and whenthe conveyer has reached the limit of its downward movement asdetermined by the length of the key ways 26a and 43, the gears 23 and 25will be moved out of mesh. The clamps 63 are screwed up against theexterior of the lower casing section and the bolts 28 are then removedthereby detachng the bracket 27 1mm the lower section. After this thehandle 54 is actuated to bring the gear 50 into meshV with the rack 56to raise the sleeve 26, bracket 27 and tube 38 to their upper limits andan intermediate casing sec-tion 32 and an additional Archimedean screwof equal length is then inserted into the machine, the casing sectionsbeing secured together in interlocking engagement by the plates 35 andbolts 3T while the screw sections are fastened. together by means of theinterlocking means 38a.

The gear 50 is then disengaged from the rack 56 and the gears 23, 25again placed in mesh and the digging operation is resumed.

It will be understood that any desirable number of sections may beemployed and that' the length of the sections may be varied according tothe nature of the work being performed. I have found a length of twometres for each of the sections satisfactor)7 for general purposes. Thedigging implement 31 should be so constructed and proportioned that itwill extend slightly beyond the outer circumference of the casing so asto provide clearance between the walls of the excavation and the casingand its lower point should terminate either exactly at the extended axisof casing or should extend slightly beyond this axis to prevent leavinga central projecting mound of material.

Having thus described my'inventiomwhat l claim `as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a frame. anArchimedean screw mounted in said frame for reciprocation therein, meansto prevent said screw from rotating, a casing substantially enclosingsaid screw and means to rotate said casing.

2. A device of the character described comprising a frame. anArchimedean screw mounted in said frame for reciprocation therein, meansto prevent said screw from rotating, a casing substantially enclosingsaid screw, means to rotate said casing,'and means to raise said screwand casing.

3. A device of the character set forth comprising a frame, a tubularsleeve .mounted for rotation and reciprocation in said frame, drivingmechanism for rotating said tubular sleeve, a casing. means for securingsaid casing to said tubular sleeve, a tube mounted within said tubularsleeve, an Archimedean screw mounted on said tube and bearing means forsaid tube mounted on said frame, said bearing means and tube providedwith means to permit reciprocation of said tube but prevent rotationthereof. i

4. A device of the character set forth comprising a frame, atubularsleeve mounted for rotation, and reciprocation in said frame, drivingmechanism. for rotating said tubular sleeve, a casing, means lorsecuring said casing to said tubular sleeve7 a tube mounted within saidtubular sleeve, an Archimedean screw mounted on said tube, bearing meansfor said tube mounted on said trame, said bearing means and tubeprovided with means to permit reciprocation of said tube but preventrotation thereof, and means for raising` said tubular sleeve and tube.

5. A device of the character set torth comprising a frame, a tubularsleeve mounted for rotation, and reciprocation in said frame, drivingmechanism tor rotating said tubular sleeve7 a casing, means for securingsaid casing to said tubular sleeve7 a tube mounted within said tubularsleeve, an Archimedean screw mounted on said tube, bearing` means Yforsaid tube mounted on said trame, said bearing means and 'tube providedwith means to permit reciprocation or said tube but prevent rotationthereof, means to prevent relative longitudinal movement between saidtubular Vsleeve and tube, and means for raising said tubular sleeve. Y

6. A device ot the character set forth comprising a frame, a tubularsleeve mounted for rotation and reciprocation in said frame, drivingmechanism tor rotating)r said tubular sleeve, a casing, means torsecuring said casing to said tubular sleeve7 a tube mounted within saidtubular sleeve7 an Archimedean screw mounted on said tube`r bearing,rmeans for said tube mounted on said trame, said bearing means and tubeprovided with means to permit reciprocatio'n ot said tube but preventrotation thereof, means to prevent relative longitudinal movementbetween said tubular sleeve and tube, a rack carried by said tube andgearingconnected with said driving mechanism adapted to be engaged withsaid raclr to raise said tubular sleeve and tube.

7. A device of the character set tort-h comprising a trame, anArchimedean screw Carried by said trame, and a casing substantiallyenclosing said screw`r said. casing and screw each comprising` aplurality 01":

said screw. means to rotate said casing,

means carried by the lower portion 01"' said traine adapted to ent/agelower portion ot said casing" to p event lateral movement thereof andyielding means to hold said last mentioned means in engagement with saidcasing. l

9. device ot the character set forth comprising a trame, an Archimedeanscrew carried by said trame, and a casingsubstantially enclosing,r saidscrewa said casing and screw each comprising a plurality of detachablesections, clamping means carried by said trame adapted to engage withthe lower section ot said casing' and hold the same against move-nientwhile additional sections are being attached to said screw and casing.

l0. A, device ot the character described comprising` a iframe, anAlrchiinedean screw mounted in said trame Jfor reciprocation therein,means to prevent said screw from rotating, a casing substantiallyenclosing saidscrew, means to rotate said casing. the interior of saidcasino: beine' provided with spirally arranged 2grooves.

l1. A device ot the character described comprising' a frame, anvArohimedcan Screw mounted in said trame "for reciprocation therein7means to prevent said screw from rotatinga a casing` substantiallyenclosing said screw, means to rotate said casing', the interior or saidcasing being provided with grooves extending spirally therein in a.reverse direction to the spiral of 'the Arc-himedean screw. p

Signed at Milagro in the Province of .Navarra and Kingdom of Spain this26 day of `May A. D. 1922. l

WENCESLAG GlZUETA y LPEZ de ZUBERIA.

